ESP - The competition

[digitalseance]

So I was reading the BSP Competition thread and decided that us 2.0L need our own for ESP.

How do you think the 2L will hold up in ESP against the Cobras, mustangs, ss cameros, DSMs, etc?

Now that boost isn't regulated in SP, items such as the UTEC are legal and really help out for horsepower, but even modded out to the extent of the rules the WRX is still down compared to the SS Camero (325 stock from the factory). AWD can help but on dry pavement with stickies, I see little benefit.

I'm planning on running in the divisional series and might make a stop at a national tour or two. I've got about 5 years of auto-x experience but only 1 in the wrx and it was all in D-Stock where it was not competitive on the divisional level against the ACR SRT-4.

What do you guys think? What should I be on the lookout for when looking at the other guys in my class?

[KC]

Fender flares. Wider wheels. Big rubber. No cats. Suspension. Lighten the car up as much as possible, seats, etc...

Then, drop a 2.5L in the '02/'03 WRX (greatest weight savings), then.... UTEC or some tune similar. 100 octane. Water injection.

If I still had my wagon, that's what I'd do. If I had about $20K to buy a used WRX (preferrably with a salvage title... dirt cheap) and then do what needed to be done, it'd be a national contender.

Who knows, some day I just might be back, if I can find some $$ somehow.

--kC

[digitalseance]

Bringing the thread back from the dead...

Originally Posted by KC

Then, drop a 2.5L in the '02/'03 WRX (greatest weight savings), then.... UTEC or some tune similar. 100 octane. Water injection.

So, it seems to be easier to find rolled/totalled/trashed STi's than it is 06 WRX's. Is the engine (minus the obvious turbo difference) in the 06 WRX the same as the STi just with the TD04? In otherwords, can I take an STi engine from an 04, swap the turbo to the TD04, and be up/bd legal?

[Scooby South]

Originally Posted by digitalseance

Bringing the thread back from the dead...


So, it seems to be easier to find rolled/totalled/trashed STi's than it is 06 WRX's. Is the engine (minus the obvious turbo difference) in the 06 WRX the same as the STi just with the TD04? In otherwords, can I take an STi engine from an 04, swap the turbo to the TD04, and be up/bd legal?

no...not the same block, heads, cams anything...the STi is its own entity...pistons, rods...case....all different...Sorry...Phil..

Bill

[Warp3]

Originally Posted by Scooby South

no...not the same block, heads, cams anything...the STi is its own entity...pistons, rods...case....all different...Sorry...Phil..

Bill

Are you sure about that? Every thread I've read on this has noted that the longblock is different, but the shortblock is the same on all the 2.5L turbo models.

[Scooby South]

Originally Posted by Warp3

Are you sure about that? Every thread I've read on this has noted that the longblock is different, but the shortblock is the same on all the 2.5L turbo models.

2 Different part #'s...only common part is the Crank...the cases...the rods and pistons are all different...I am 100***37; sure...sorry Shane...

Bill

[PhilC]

I think the question in everyone's mind is what's going to come of a re-organized SP in the next year or so. Little birdy told me don't spend your money on a WRX ESP build because it will be wasted. Our resident SPAC member might be able to chime in on that.

I too think it could be a national contender in ESP, I'm just not ready to throw the bucks at it and do the irreversable mods like the fender flares.

[makofoto]

Pete's been doing fairly well locally. He's our '06 CSCC ESP Champ. He did beat Christine Berry a while back while she drove the Eguina ESP Camaro that her dad Tom co-drove at '06 Nationals. Pete's now on 275 710's. We were looking for an interesting show down with Michael Eguina yesterday, driving the same max'ed out ESP Camaro, but our event got cancelled because of rain(!). Christine is our PAX Ladies '06 CSCC Champ with that Camaro, and Tom is our Open Pax Champ (now driving the BSP Evo).

[Evil XT]

what suspensiona/tire/wheel combo is on this?

[/quote]


Thanks

[Impreza_AWDriver]

- Megan racing Track Coilovers(WRX)9.5K Fr/12K Rear
(My next setup will be this spring rate combo, currently 8K Fr. 10K Rr)
- Kumho 710's 275-40-17
- Enkei RPF1's 17 x 8.
The tires are a bit bulgy sidewall wise but just fine.

Originally Posted by Evil XT

what suspensiona/tire/wheel combo is on this?

Thanks[/quote]

[AUTOwrXER]

Originally Posted by PhilC

Our resident SPAC member might be able to chime in on that.

Honestly it's just a bunch of ideas right now. Nobody knows any more than anyone else...

[Scooby South]

good to see others thinking....

Let me help out here..

Cars that are in ESP:

Street Prepared Class E

AMC
AMX & Javelin (all)

Audi
5000 Turbo & 5000 Turbo
Quattro & 200 & 200
Quattro
A8 & A8 Quattro
V8 Quattro

BMW
2500 & 2800 (all)
3.OS & CS (all)
528 & 530 & 533 (all)
633i & 733i (all)

Chevrolet/Pontiac/Buick/Oldsmobile
Camaro/Firebird ('67-'70)
Camaro/Firebird, all ('70***189;-'81)
Camaro/Firebird & Firehawk,
NOC ('82-'92) (3rd gen)
Camaro/Firebird & SS &
Firehawk & WS6, NOC ('93-
'02) (4th gen)
Chevelle ('64-'67)
Chevelle ('68-'72)
Corvair Yenko Stage I, II, III (all)
Lumina
Monza V8 & Skyhawk V6
Reatta
Regal V6 & V8 RWD ('80-'88)
Starfire V6 & Sunbird V6 (all)
Trans Am Turbo ('82-'92)
GTO 04-07

Chrysler/Dodge/Plymouth
Barracuda (***8216;65-'69)/Dart/
Valiant/Duster (***8216;63-'76) [Abody]
Barracuda & Challenger (***8216;70 -
74) [E-body]
Challenger 6-cyl & V8 (NOC)
Conquest Turbo
Laser all turbo (***8216;89-'99)
Stealth non-turbo
Dodge
Dakota (***8216;97-'04)
Dodge / Mitsubishi / Eagle
Colt / Mirage (***8216;84-'88)
Colt / Mirage / Summit (***8216;89-
'92)
Colt / Mirage / Summit (***8216;93-
'96)
Mirage (***8216;97-'02)

Eagle
Talon all turbo (***8216;89-'99)

Ferrari
400 America (all)
500 Superfast (all)

Ford/Mercury
Capri Turbo 4
Cougar ('65-'70)
Cougar ('71-'74)
Mustang ('64-1/2-'66)
Mustang & Cougar (***8216;67-'68)
Mustang & Cougar ('69-'70)
Mustang & Cougar ('71-'73)
Mustang II, all ('74-'78)
Mustang & SVO & Cobra R, V6 & V8 ('79-'93)
Mustang (***8216;94-'04) all NOC
including Cobra, Cobra R(SN95)
Mustang (***8216;05+) (S197)
Taurus SHO
Thunderbird & Cougar, all (***8216;83-'88)
Thunderbird & Cougar, all ('89-'97)

Infiniti
G35
M30
Q45

Jaguar
XJS (all)
Sedans, 6 & 12-cyl.
XK 120 & 140 &150 &160

Lexus
250
400

Mazda
929
MazdaSpeed 6

Mercedes
230SL & 250SL & 280SL (all)
350SL & 380SL & 450SL (all)
173
220 & 230 & 250 & 280
Sedans (all)
280 4.5 Sedans & 300 6.3
Sedans (all)

Mitsubishi
Eclipse all turbo (***8216;89-'99)
Starion Turbo
3000 GT non-Turbo

Nissan
300ZX non-turbo ('84-'89)
300ZX non-turbo ('90+)

Peugeot
405

Saab
SPG (16V & Turbo)

Saleen
Mustang 302 & 351 nonsupercharged
('84-'93)

Shelby
GT350 ('65-'66)
GT350, GT500 ('67+)

Subaru
Forester 2.5XT
Legacy 2.5GT(***8216;05+)
WRX

Toyota
Supra non-turbo ('87-'92)
Supra non-turbo ('93+)
Supra Turbo (pre-'87)
Supra Turbo ('87-92)

Volvo
700 Series (all)
800 Series (all)
S60 & V70

All American inline 6, V6 and V8
sedans and pick-ups not otherwise
classified. Other sedans over 3.0L
not otherwise classified. (See Section
15.1.C for update/backdate
limitations.)

[Flintster55]

Originally Posted by Scooby South

good to see others thinking....

Let me help out here..

Cars that are in ESP:

Street Prepared Class E

Subaru
Forester 2.5XT
Legacy 2.5GT(‘05+)
WRX

All American inline 6, V6 and V8
sedans and pick-ups not otherwise
classified. Other sedans over 3.0L
not otherwise classified. (See Section
15.1.C for update/backdate
limitations.)

See this is what got me thinking. Since it's in the same class I figured it might not move me up. Oh well guess SM it is. At least I have another reason for a bigger turbo now

[wrx wagone]

Originally Posted by Flintster55

See this is what got me thinking. Since it's in the same class I figured it might not move me up. Oh well guess SM it is. At least I have another reason for a bigger turbo now

Sadly there is only update/backdate, not sidedate.

[Scooby South]

interesting note.....a ESP G35 isnt' the same as BSP Z?????
especially with the track pack...is there significant weight difference between the 2???

ESP in our region has heated up this year...new blood...we have 5 WRX's in ESP trim at our locals....the lone GTO, Mustang, Camaro drivers Swooon over if any of those guys have r compounds....and...let out a sigh of relief when all them are on street tires........

but couple of the ESP WRX's are starting to figure out that once they get 'R's they are completly competive..

Bill

[Scooby South]

Cars that COULD Make noise in ESP if Prepped right

Audi Quattro
BMW 528
Chevy Camaro
Ford Mustang/Cobra
Pontiac GTO
Mitsu Eclipe AWD/Turbo
Mazdaspeed 6....
Saab....Swedish iron baby..
Subaru...All


That Forester is my hero....my that looks awesome..

Bill

[waktasz]

I'll let you know how close I can get to Strano at our next event in my mid-prepped 06 WRX with 275 notReallyMadeForAutocrossRcomps

[leecea]

Originally Posted by waktasz

I'll let you know how close I can get to Strano at our next event in my mid-prepped 06 WRX with 275 notReallyMadeForAutocrossRcomps

Good luck. I saw him demolish everyone's times at the Philly/AI Shootout. Hard to imagine a WRX that could keep up.

[waktasz]

Originally Posted by leecea

Good luck. I saw him demolish everyone's times at the Philly/AI Shootout. Hard to imagine a WRX that could keep up.

Yep I was there (in STU though). Demolish is a good description. Were you there the day he drove Neary's car and smoked everybody too?

[leecea]

Originally Posted by waktasz

Yep I was there (in STU though). Demolish is a good description. Were you there the day he drove Neary's car and smoked everybody too?

No, I missed that.

[digitalseance]

Originally Posted by waktasz

I'll let you know how close I can get to Strano at our next event in my mid-prepped 06 WRX with 275 notReallyMadeForAutocrossRcomps

Any word on how close you came? I've got a guy in my local region that called up Strano and mimicked his entire setup (coilovers, spring rate, etc). the only thing he didn't mimic was the wheels as he likes to use 19s in the front to increase steering response to his driving style.

I'm over a second slower on most days. I didn't realize I was loosing tires so that could be a consideration. I used jbracingtires and have some Hoosiers on the way so that should help some.

[waktasz]

He hasn't been to any Philly region events yet, and I haven't been anywhere else yet this season.

[Chiketkd]

Originally Posted by waktasz

He hasn't been to any Philly region events yet, and I haven't been anywhere else yet this season.

How well did you do time-wise at the last Warminster event in comparison to Mike Hoyer in his DS '06 WRX?

[solo-x]

You guys cancel events for rain? You got to be kidding me. Please tell me there was really bad lightning.

That car in the picture doesn't look like a very serious ESP effort. I know how fast KC's STX WRX was, and I know how fast the DSM at nats is when it's not eating turbos. On the new Nats surface, an ESP WRX would eat anything with a live axle.

The power of the camaro is impressive, but the gearing is not. Once you compare the gearing of the WRX to that of the camarostangs you realize that the WRX has a lot going for it.

Of course, with the new "best of breed" philosophy, one has to wait and see what the changes are going to mean to SP. IMO, anyone currently building a new car for SP is nuts.

[Impreza_AWDriver]

Originally Posted by solo-x

You guys cancel events for rain? You got to be kidding me. Please tell me there was really bad lightning.

That car in the picture doesn't look like a very serious ESP effort. I know how fast KC's STX WRX was, and I know how fast the DSM at nats is when it's not eating turbos. On the new Nats surface, an ESP WRX would eat anything with a live axle.

The power of the camaro is impressive, but the gearing is not. Once you compare the gearing of the WRX to that of the camarostangs you realize that the WRX has a lot going for it.

Of course, with the new "best of breed" philosophy, one has to wait and see what the changes are going to mean to SP. IMO, anyone currently building a new car for SP is nuts.

That would be me in the pictured Forester.
I am curious on what does not look so serious in the picture?

I can go into detail of my 1.5 years worth of tuning and modding if need be. The biggest areas still stock(not serious) in my case are diffs and intake system, i.e. intercooler and TGV's and the like. I have a gutted R160 waiting for a cusco diff., just not certain I want to spend the time or money to do all of the diffs. Do you think it would be stupid to just try out the rear diff upgrade without the center and front?? My biggest issues in putting down power is just that, I spin both inside wheels mid corner when trying to power out of the corners, mainly on tightish med. speed type corners. LFBing has helped, just started that about 2 months ago. Also, the wider rubber seems to help some too. Went from 245's to 275's just in the last month.

Stupid rain this weekend messed up my suspension tuning plans. I am basically using the same formula of spring rates and sways and the like as other Nationally cometitve WRX's from our area. I am just not as high dollar in the damper department as they are. I am rolling on Megan Racing Track dampers in the rear, just added a week ago and Track versions in the front, 8K/10K F/R respectively. Looking to tryout 10/12 soon. This being my DD, those choices are tough, on my azz of course...